SERVICE TIP

Proper Care and Storage Result in Better Pipe

Proper care of headers (caps) and pallets (base rings) prior to storage will result in better pipe and fewer problems, both in manufacturing and in the field. Here are a few tips for getting maximum performance from your headers, pallets, and shaping rings:

• Both pallets and headers should be cleaned and lightly oiled before storage so they will be ready for immediate use. Pallets should be cleaned with steel wool and a scraper or powered wire brush. Steel wool and oil should be used on headers. Snap rings and set screws should be examined and replaced if necessary, then reassembled.
  
  
• Concrete build-up must be removed before storage, and this must be a daily practice as well. If concrete is not cleaned from pallets, bad bells can result. The pallet will also be difficult to remove from the pipe, possibly causing the bells to break or crack.
  
  
• Keep the inside diameter (I.D.) and outer diameter (O.D.) of the pallet clean. This is vital because a dirty pallet O.D. will make the mold hard to close. Also, if the pallet is tight in the mold, it will not turn freely during bell cycle. This may cause damage to the bell down unit.
  
  
• It is additionally important to keep the I.D. of the pallet clean, because if it is dirty, the longbottom will stick in the pallet. As the longbottom is turned on, the pallet will spin with the pallet, the pallet legs will either be knocked off or the bell down unit itself may be damaged.
  
  
• Maintenance should always be performed on headers and pallets before storing them. Problems such as broken legs, cracked pallets, or broken flanges should be reported to maintenance personnel and corrected. If they are not, poor pipe can result, as well as machine damage.
  
  
• If possible, store pallets and headers indoors to keep them from rusting. If pallets are kept outside, they should be covered with a protective coating (such as EN-50), and they should be under a tarp or some type of roof. An oil-base product should be applied to caps. Should rust still appear after long storage, remove it with steel wool or a grinder with a wire brush.
  
  
• Always store pallets and headers stacked, never standing on edge. This prevents them from going out-of-round, especially in the larger sizes.
  
  
• When handling headers, they should always be laid down, never dropped.
  
  
• Shaping rings should be treated like headers with regard to care and maintenance. McCracken also recommends that after each day's run they be washed off with water, and then cleaned to prevent concrete build-up. 

Posted 27 November 2000